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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOSEPH B. WILSON, merchant and assessor in West Pottsgrove township, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1850. He is the son of John and Maria (Speakman) Wilson.

John Wilson (father) was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he lived as a farmer all his life, except five years, from 1845 to 1850, which he spent in Berks county. During this five years he was engaged in the iron business. He died in 1881, aged sixty-five years. His wife was Maria (Speakman) Wilson. She survived him some years, and they are both buried in the Brandywine burying ground, which adjoined their farm in Chester county. They had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, seven of whom are now living, as follows: 1. Edmond, married Rebecca Mattlan. They live in Chester county, and are farmers. They have four children. 2. Isaac, married Ella Simm, and they are farmers in Chester county. They have three children. 3. Joseph B. 4. Ellis, unmarried, and lives in Harrisburg, where he is retired. 5. Chalkley, married Rebecca Jefferies. They live in Reading, he being an artist. 6. Annie, married William Price, and they reside in Philadelphia. He is an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad. They have four children. 7. Richard T., married Della Bean. They live in Reading, he being employed by an iron company.

John Wilson (grandfather) lived in Chester county, and was a farmer. He married Anna Bentley. At the time of his death he was sixty years of age, and his wife lived to be eighty-four. They are also buried in the Brandywine burying ground. The maternal grandparents were also residents of Chester county, where they died a great many years ago, and where they are buried.

Joseph B. Wilson went to school until he was seventeen years of age, acquiring a good education. He was apprenticed to Levi G. Conard, of Chester county, to learn the blacksmith trade, which he followed for seven years. After removing to Pottstown he was employed by the Glasgow Iron Company, remaining in this position for one year, afterwards having charge of the furnace for four years. He was next employed by the Pottstown-Iron Company for one year, by the Glendale Iron Company for twelve years, and by other firms. In 1900 he removed to Stowe, Pennsylvania, and in 1902 opened a grocery store at his present location, having acquired a large and remunerative business. In 1902 he formed a partnership with Mr. William M. Rhoads.

In 1874 Joseph B. Wilson married Lucretia Thomas, daughter of Aquilla and Jane Thomas. She died January 9, 1879. They had two children, one of whom is now living, Bertha, born in March, 1878, is a stenographer at Reading. Joseph B. Wilson married (second wife) Mary O., daughter of Philip C. and Caroline J. (Derr) Koch. Mr. and Mrs. Koch lived in Berks county, where he was a farmer and a shoemaker. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have no children. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat in politics, and has held the offices of judge of election, school director and assessor. The family are members of the Lutheran church of Stowe.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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